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Visiting Aunt Sally

Road, road and more road. It's the day before Christmas and my mom insisted we all go to visit Aunt Sally. Now Aunt Sally is a gentle old lady, a little older than my mom, but for the last couple of years she's been having lung problems so she needs to stay in an old age home where they can take good care of her. Oddly enough, she isn't even family of ours, she's just a good neighbor we got to know a long time ago, when James and I were kids. Come to think of it, if it wasn't for her, James and I probably never would've met.

We enter the city once again, I hoped that I wouldn't have to see it until I come home, but I guess it can't be helped. It's the same city as the one I come from, but the old-age home is about half an hour's drive from our house.

The car comes to a halt outside the gate, "We're here to see Miss Sally Hughes." My dad says over the little speaker box.

"Miss Sally and her guests are expecting you, go right in." the voice from the other side says.

"What other guests, dad?" I ask my father as the car enters the parking lot.

"Didn't James tell you? He and his parents are here for the day too." My dad replies.

James did try to call me the last couple of days, but ever since Tracey and I had a connection, I've been trying to avoid him. Now I'm forced to be in James' company as well as Tracey's, wonderful...

We quickly go in at reception to find out where Aunt Sally's room is, she's only been at this old age home for six months or so and it's the first time we visit her since then. As we walk down the corridor, Tracey takes a hold of my hand. What if James see us like this? Would he be offended? Would he be angry? Would he burst out in tears in front of everyone cursing me? Oh please, don't let that happen.

We enter the room, it's not large, but there's enough space for us all. We all start greeting each other, I introduce Tracey to everyone as we go along. James is standing next to his father, luckily our hands broke apart from each other from all the greeting, but did James notice?

"Hi Mr. B, how are you" I ask James' father.

"Mark, hi! Good to see you! Who's this? You're girlfriend?" he asks, laughing from his lungs.

Tracey blushes and I myself feel a little red, "No, it's just a friend staying over for the holidays." I reply.

"Well nice to meet you Tracey." he says as he shakes her hand gently.

Great, now it's James' turn. Luckily it all goes smoothly, he's not wearing any hot clothes, he greets me like a friend, with a handshake, he seems to greet Tracey friendly too, with a hug.

Why am I so paranoid that he'd start making a fuss? He doesn't know about us, in fact I don't even think he saw us holding hands, and so what if we were? I'm just being paranoid, or is it my consions bugging me?

Most of the day goes down well, we laugh, we chat, we drink coffee and coldrink, we munch on a few snacks. Then, James comes over to me. "Say, you mind helping me get more coldrink from our car?"

"Sure, yeah" I say, trying not to sound too eager nor too uneager. They parked in a different place than us, quite far from the room. "Why'd you park so far?" I ask James.

"My dad. He's not very thoughtful, you know him." he replies. I try to listen to the sound of his voice, it seems friendly, but not in the way I know it.

Finally we arrive at their car, a sparkling white Toyota. He opens up the back, me standing next to him. "Mark..." he says, pausing.

"Yeah?"

"I've been thinking, and I'm not jealous or anything, but..." he pauses for a while, "This girl, Tracey. Is... Is there something between you and her?" he says as he looks at me, his eyes narrow down, he looks worried.

"No, she's just a friend. Why do you ask?" I say, trying to reassure him that there's nothing going on.

"I don't know. The first couple of days you couldn't wait to talk to me, now it feels like you're avoiding me." he says, turning towards me.

"Look." I say as I take his huge paws in my hands, I look up at him, I see his soft, glassy, yellow eyes. "We belong together, I know that. I hope you know that too. I've been spending more time with Tracey so she could feel more at home with us, that's all."

James smiles at me with that sexy smile I like so much. "Thanks." he says. "It means a lot to me." He slowly turns away and grabs a 2 liter bottle of cola. "Here, you mind carrying this? There's two more I'll carry." he says.

I gladly oblige and take the bottle. He takes two more, places them on the floor and closes the trunk, locking it with the key.

As we enter the room with the bottles of cola, Tracey chats with James' mom. I see them laughing. "Good." I think to myself. "At least she's enjoying herself."

As the day goes by, I spend time with James and Tracey, sometimes alone, sometimes all three of us chat together. Sometimes I find myself staring at James' body, the muscles wanting to just burst out of his shirt, strong, yet sensitive, understanding. Other times I find myself staring at Tracey, the girl with the beautiful smile, caring, unselfish, honest. I feel like I'm being subconsiously ripped in two. Who am I going to choose? I can't have both, it simply isn't fair to either of them.

"Visiting time ends in 15 minutes everyone." The lady says as she stands in the doorway, "I'm sorry to break up this party, but you need to finish up." she says with a smile. We all start tidying up. The ladies throw all the junk in plastic bags and the guys take them out and throw them in the trash bins outside.

Soon enough we all say goodbye and head out the door. I was the last one out the door. "Oh, Mark!" I hear Aunt Sally calling me.

"Yes Aunt Sally? I say as I turn around and walk over to her, sitting next to her on the bed.

"How long have you and James been together? And not as friends, I mean more than friends" she asks.

"Excuse me Aunt Sally?" I say, trying to sound confused.

Aunt Sally laughs, "You can't fool this old lady. I've seen the way you look at him today, and the way he looks at you. I've also noticed the same thing between you and that Tracey girl." she says.

I look down towards the floor. "I don't know who to choose. James and I have been together for a while, but I really like Tracey too. I want to come home to a wife and kids, a family who accepts me, but on the other side, I... I love James too." I confess, spilling the beans. I just hope she doesn't freak out.

"Listen, kid. You need to follow your heart. Don't listen to your parents' prejudices, if they can't accept you for who you are then..." she pauses a while. "Just follow your heart kid, and everything will work out fine."

"And if my heart can't decide?" I ask.

"Well..." Aunt Sally starts, but a voice down the hall interrupts her.

"Mark, come on! You father wants to go!"

"I'm on my way mom!" I shout.

"Your heart will make a choice, kid. It always does." she says reassuring, squeezing my hand firmly.

"Thanks Aunt Sally." I say, tears almost filling my eyes.

"Now go, you know how hasty your dad can be." she says, smiling at me.

"Goodbye Aunt." I say, hugging her.

I get up from next to her and run down the hall to the car.

"Everyone in?" my dad asks as I close the door.

"Yup!" I reply in a happy voice, smiling broadly.

"Well, it's been fun, but let's go home!" My dad says out loud and we all cheer him on, including Tracey. During the drive back home, she fell asleep on my shoulder, no one has ever fallen asleep on my shoulder. It feels so warm, so comforting, so good to know that someone feels safe when she's with me.

Is my heart making its choice? I don't know, maybe it is...